Pembroke man accused of deliberately scalding baby

A Pembroke man was charged with assault and endangerment of a child after he poured scalding-hot water on an 18-month-old in New Hampshire, causing burns to the baby’s face, head, torso and arms, police said.

By Jessica Trufant

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Jessica Trufant

Posted Dec. 16, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Dec 16, 2013 at 4:19 PM

By Jessica Trufant

Posted Dec. 16, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Dec 16, 2013 at 4:19 PM

» Social News

A Pembroke man was charged with assault and endangerment of a child after he poured scalding-hot water on an 18-month-old in New Hampshire, causing burns to the baby’s face, head, torso and arms, police said.

Shawn Ward, 23, of 7 Felicia Terrace was arraigned Monday in Salem (N.H.) District Court on charges of second-degree assault with bodily injury of an individual under 13 years old and endangering the welfare of a child. He was held on $20,000 cash bail.

Police in Salem arrested Ward on Saturday after the child he was baby-sitting was taken to a hospital Friday night with serious burns.

Police said the injuries were intentional and there was a “significant delay” in seeking medical treatment.

Police said Ward was baby-sitting his girlfriend’s baby, and that he is not the child’s father.

The baby was transferred to Tufts Medical Center in Boston on Friday, police said. The child’s condition was not known Monday.

Pembroke police Lt. David Clauss said Ward does not have an arrest record with his department.

A friend of Ward’s, Adam Lee of Derry, N.H., told The Patriot Ledger that Ward called him Friday night and said he had accidentally burned the child while bathing him, and he didn’t know what to do or who else to call.

Lee said he went to the home and called an ambulance after seeing the child’s burns, which he does not believe Ward intentionally caused. He said Ward told him he did not realize how hot the water was when he went to rinse the toddler’s head under the bathtub faucet while giving him a bath.

Lee said the child did not appear to be scared of Ward, and the child’s mother returned home as the ambulance was arriving.

“It was definitely an accident. I have a child myself, and this could happen to anyone,” Lee said. “It wasn’t malicious. It wasn’t intentional. It was a lack of judgment and parenting skills because it isn’t his child.”

Lee said police briefly interviewed Ward, but never asked to speak to any witnesses.

Salem police did not return a call for comment by press deadline Monday.